Newbie Self Diagnosis - In Denial - AHI Question

[marktheshark]

Ahh, Makes sense.

Last night shows I slept for 7.2 hours and had 4.8 events per hour, I have this feeling that the pressure is not rising very much, my first post said it's rising to 7.3 but I don't think that's correct because its always saying 7.3, like its never mildly changing. I have the minimum ramp set at 5.0 then once the ramp ends the minimum is set at 5.8.

I should have the data card tomorrow to start tracking things better.

Thanks for your help.

[kteague]

Your data will be key to knowing if there's some tweaking that could help get that AHI down a bit more. Hopefully it will be as simple as raising the your minimum a bit, but good luck with getting your personal best treatment.

[marktheshark]

Hello again all.
Here is last nights data, hope I got it right. I will say last night was rough, woke up several times, 2 bathroom trips etc.

Friday night I didn't have the data card yet, but my AHI for the whole night was only 1.7 per hour.

It seems most of the events are central, which has me a little freaked out.

I've suspected most of my disturbances come in the early morning hours.

I noticed if I wake up and look at the machine for the firs 2-4 hours, AHI says 0.

Then the events seem to show up the last couple hours before waking.

I wanted to also add, in my first post I didn't want to bore everyone with my symptoms, but all my problems started after a very LONG and HARD virus 3 years ago. Most likely viral that had me laid out for almost a month.

[zonker]

Hello again all.
Here is last nights data, hope I got it right. I will say last night was rough, woke up several times, 2 bathroom trips etc.

Friday night I didn't have the data card yet, but my AHI for the whole night was only 1.7 per hour.

It seems most of the events are central, which has me a little freaked out.

I've suspected most of my disturbances come in the early morning hours.

I noticed if I wake up and look at the machine for the firs 2-4 hours, AHI says 0.

Then the events seem to show up the last couple hours before waking.

I wanted to also add, in my first post I didn't want to bore everyone with my symptoms, but all my problems started after a very LONG and HARD virus 3 years ago. Most likely viral that had me laid out for almost a month.

will let others comment about how you don't have the charts organized the way they want to see them. i'll just say that it looks as though you will have to raise your min pressure. i don't think that 6 is enough to help out.

to the others-i'm no good at reading charts. so tell me, why is there no timeline on this chart?

[marktheshark]

I just updated the image, is that better?

[palerider]

I just updated the image, is that better?

We want to see

Flags
Flow Rate
Pressure (not mask pressure, and certainly not both, they're redundant)
Leaks
Snores
Flow limitations.

Your pressure isn't bad, your obstructive events are nicely low. I would suggest trying lowering, or turning off EPR to see if that would reduce your central apneas.

[palerider]

i'll just say that it looks as though you will have to raise your min pressure. i don't think that 6 is enough to help out.

Why? His obstructives and hypopneas are well controlled and more pressure won't help centrals.

Just because some misguided people think that the best way to get information on the internet is to say something that's wrong.... it's not, don't be like them.

[marktheshark]

Thank you, I will try that and also try and upload the screen shot. I do know that I was tossing and turning and wrestling the hose quit a bit since I'm still getting use to it.

[zonker]

i'll just say that it looks as though you will have to raise your min pressure. i don't think that 6 is enough to help out.

Why? His obstructives and hypopneas are well controlled and more pressure won't help centrals.

Just because some misguided people think that the best way to get information on the internet is to say something that's wrong.... it's not, don't be like them.

just so i can be mr. bad example?

what about the lack of time line? or am i hallucinating?

[palerider]

what about the lack of time line? or am i hallucinating?

What do you mean?

[zonker]

what about the lack of time line? or am i hallucinating?

What do you mean?

weird. apparently, i WAS hallucinating. i just looked at his sleepyhead chart again and the timeline is there.

reckon i need to lie down for a bit.

carry on.

[marktheshark]

Well last night ahi was down to 1.8 per hour for 8 hours and I noticed some mouth leaks, so the data I posted was probably not the best night to use as an example lol.

[Jdizzle]

Those CA clusters (both of the big ones) last for about 30minutes and right before you wake up. Maybe one of those more experienced guys here can help you zoom in on your breathing patterns and determine if you were moving around/getting uncomfortable and those CA's are false? And how do you feel? (I feel better with the machine and waking up every 2 hours than sleeping for 8 uninterrupted without it).

Lowering my EPR from 3 to 2 cut my centrals in half(Something to try if you're like me and can't run without EPR due to aerophagia). I'm not worried about the others (1. I was told not to worry about them. 2. I have a very basic understanding of my breathing patterns and it looks like they're false)

[marktheshark]

I forget to mention I did lower my epr last night to 2 so seems to have helped.

I can say that when I took the minimum pressure from 5.8 to 6.0 it just "felt" better for some reason, but I also started to notice mouth leaks when I increased like that.

I am still waking a lot aware of the mask, my wife woke me up last night after 2 hours and said something is leaking and loud, pretty sure air was just blowing thru my mouth.

[marktheshark]

So I have been using the machine every night since I started this post and wanted to give some feedback.

I feel very comfortable now with the mask and can fall right asleep.

I think my AHI numbers are 3.0 each night and I can now tell its because I am waking up often, mainly from the air blowing thru my mouth.

I have used a mouth guard for the last 4 nights which seemed to help but I can tell the air is still coming thru and waking me up.

I ordered a chin strap but based on reviews, they don't sound too promising.

Here's my question, do most people that have mouth issue with air normally go to a full face mask?

Right now I'm using nasal pillows and my pressure seems to be averaging around 6-7 each night.